Gastro Gnome’s flavorful, well-crafted meals set them apart from many backpacking brands, with a comfort-food approach that goes beyond typical freeze-dried meals.
These freeze-dried backpacking meals are my favorites for their flavor and nutrition – and their lack of preservatives or additives.
Bowl & Kettle brings a noticeably elevated approach to backpacking meals, with unique recipes, rich flavors, and a level of quality that sets them apart from most brands.
RecPak is a high-calorie meal replacement powder. Just add water, shake, and drink — an easy, portable, no-cook solution for fueling long days outdoors.
Gomoku Mixed Rice is a freeze-dried rice meal with vegetables and subtle Japanese flavors — a unique backpacking option that stands out from typical trail fare, especially when paired with extra protein.
Mountain House is a go-to for backpackers, yet I’d never tried their meals, so I recently sampled multiple options – including three new flavors. From creamy comfort food to some misses, here’s what I thought about each.
Backpacker’s Pantry offers a solid lineup of freeze-dried meals that strike a good balance between taste, convenience, and price.
Pinnacle Foods freeze-dried meals are a cut above the rest, with a solid lineup of great tasting options that provide plenty of calories for outdoor adventurers.
Peak Refuel offers freeze-dried meals with homestyle flavors, more protein than many backpacking meals, and plenty of options featuring foods I enjoy on outdoor trips.
Looking for a fuss-free breakfast for camping and backpacking trips? This no-cook meal uses only four ingredients and is super easy to prepare. Just add cold water, stir and enjoy!
The key to meal planning for backpacking is to bring food that is calorie dense and lightweight. Backpacking is hard work, so it’s important to provide your body with enough to sustain you without weighing down your pack.
Not only is dehydrating your own ingredients a great way to save money on backpacking food, it’s also a good method for controlling the quality of the items used in meals.
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